WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a classified briefing on Iran to senior congressional leaders on Tuesday, hours before President Donald Trump reiterated in his State of the Union address that Tehran would not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.
The closed-door session was held with the bipartisan “Gang of Eight,” comprising top House and Senate leaders as well as the chairs and ranking members of the intelligence committees.
Such briefings typically address highly sensitive intelligence matters, including potential military contingencies, according to The Guardian.
The developments come amid a significant US military deployment to the Middle East, described by analysts as the largest concentration of American air and naval power in the region since the 2003 Iraq war buildup.
Trump said Washington preferred a diplomatic solution but accused Iran of advancing ballistic missile capabilities that could eventually threaten the United States.
“We are negotiating,” Trump said, adding that Iran appeared willing to make a deal. However, he maintained that Tehran has not publicly committed to permanently forgoing nuclear weapons.
The briefing coincided with the arrival of the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier strike group in the region, bolstering US operational readiness.
While details of Rubio’s presentation remain classified, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer described the situation as serious and called on the administration to clearly outline its strategy.
Representative Jim Himes, the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, cautioned against escalating tensions, noting that military conflicts in the Middle East have historically carried significant consequences.
Diplomatic efforts are continuing, with US-Iran talks scheduled in Geneva later this week.
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi said Tehran was prepared to swiftly reach an agreement but stressed that negotiations would be limited to nuclear issues, a position narrower than Washington’s broader demands.
Trump has called on Iran to halt its nuclear programme, cease ballistic missile development, and end support for regional groups such as Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthis. He has warned of serious repercussions if a deal is not reached within a specified timeframe.
Separately, the US has withdrawn non-essential personnel from its embassy in Lebanon, citing security concerns. Rubio also postponed a planned meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli officials said.
According to reports, General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has cautioned that a conflict with Iran could strain US missile defence stockpiles, including Patriot systems, THAAD batteries, and naval interceptors.
